Harness Protection: Is it Providing False Security?
Manufacturers of scissor lifts have developed a protective harness for operators of the machinery.
These are designed to prevent injuries if the operator falls from the platform. There are arguments on
both sides of this issue, which are for and against the wearing of a harness by scissor lift operator.
The main argument for those in favor of the harness is that scissor lift operators are at risk of falling
from the platform, therefore why not wear the harness for protection? However, there are also
arguments that state that if a scissor lift operator falls over the railing, the force that is exerted on the
lift may actually cause the entire piece of equipment to topple over. This then would result in a greater
injury.
The fact is that wearing a harness is not required by either ANSI/SIA or OSHA regulations. Additionally,
OSHA does stipulate that personal fall arrest systems, or harnesses, cannot be attached to the
guardrails.
Some other arguments of those who are against the wearing of harnesses state that they restrict
movement and provide a false sense of security for the scissor lift operator. However, the fact is that
this is not a false sense of security, rather a real sense that provides assistance if the operator falls.
Types of Harnesses
There are two basic types of fall harnesses, the fall arrest harness and the fall restraint harness. The fall
arrest systems are designed to stop the fall while it is in progress while the restraint systems help to
prevent the fall from occurring in the first place. This is a huge difference. With no fall, there is no force
on the equipment to cause a tip-over of the equipment. Where there may be some slight restriction on
the operatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movement capabilities, the fact is they are fully protected from falling off of the platform.
There are many arguments that state an operator simply jumping from
the platform would result in less damage than falling from the platform
and restricted by a harness. However, the average scissor lift operator is
not conditioned nor do they possess the physical prowess to do the right
thing, jump at the right moment and land safely.
Scissor lift operators are regulated by the OSHA, which does not require
the operator to wear a harness. For scissor lift operators however, they
should also be aware of the law of gravity, which means that if you fall,
you will hit the ground, and likely with substantial injuries. While scissor
lift training can prevent a large number of these accidents, the unexpected happens, and when it does,
the absence of a harness may result in serious injuries.

Since it is not required by law, wearing a harness is ultimately the decision of each individual scissor lift
operator. Keep in mind, just one fall could result in serious injuries, and in some cases death. Therefore
you must ask yourself if not wearing the harness is worth the risk that it presents. (Source: www.aftt.co.uk).